Friday, October 10, 2014

As much as I like to think of Rok Lok Records as this lo-fi type of label that puts out bands of that nature, I always forget that I first heard Squanto through them and, well, Rok Lok can bring out the instrumental and ambient side of things as well. Though, in all reality, it is probably not best to peg Rok Lok as a label into any single genre.

"Other Half/Bright Encounter" is in essence a cassingle from Cestine as each side is a single song, though it is roughly fifteen minutes per side so it's not particularly fit for radio unless you go to the bathroom a lot.

"Other Half" is full of ambient waves and it also kind of sounds like it could be set in space. It's the drone of the Masters of the Universe key (in the live action movie mind you, because that was such an awesome musical instrument) and like most ambient drone music I hear it is only ever slightly changing.

"Bright Encounter" ends in a sort of drone way but otherwise it isn't that close to the sound of "Other Half". Through repeating, cascading soft tones, quiet spoken bits come out in a language that is not English and if I had to guess I'd say it was French. Before that eventual drone ending I can hear the sound of seagulls and waves crashing at the beach, which adds speculation as to where this "Bright Encounter" is taking place.

Overall Cestine simply set a peaceful mood on this cassette that can transport you to any number of places or simply nowhere at all. Highly recommended for destressing after a long day.